This will be my first State shoot and I noted that OSTA is charging their normal daily fees along with ATA and then there is another OSTA administrative charge for each event. Has anyone seen this at other State shoots?

Gary glad to here from you again. We thought that maybe you had gotten stuck under your rock.

If you think this fee is unreasonable why don't you ask Walter Marvel or some of the other shooters from Delaware that regulary attend our Cardinal Center shoots? A great place to shoot and a great atmosphere.

lets think,,,,
Show up in a $95,000 RV,pulling your $30,000 drive around car, unload your $4000.00 golf cart, carefully set your $21,000 Kolar into gun rack, add $80.00 a flat for ammo, on said golf cart, bitch about a few $$ for a daily fee to support the sport PRICELESS!
Dave B.

Don'tlikeyourbrownings: You sound like the DA in the white house. Little class warfare on your part, huh. Maybe you want a special motorhome assesment if a shooter comes in a motorhome then you can share with all those who just drive in and put their browning in the rack.

Wow, it's like I turned over a rock. I plan on three shoots this year, all at Cardinal. I wasn't bitching about the fee, just wondering why it was only there for the one (State) shoot and not the others.

The fees are the last thing I look at when I consider going to a shoot. Travel time, fuel, hotel rooms vs camping (if spots are available), and ammo needed far out way a service fee. The quality of the facility and who will be there is important too.

If you shoot 12 events, the service fee equals $12 to $36 depending where you go.

I have no problem with the fees, Most larger shoots have them. However it would be nice to know what they are for. I heard years ago that some were used as bonus to score keepers etc, If they are charged the reason should be posted.

Let me give you a history of the fees. Initially the fees were called relocation fees in order to have funds available for any unforseen expenses involved with the start up of the new state grounds.

Once the relocation was complete the name was changed to service fees. These fees were used to purchase the shoot off bleachers as the first order of business.

The next item purchased was the addition of 3 more banks of traps along with the voice calls scorers chairs and benches for shooters.

We then turned our attention as to what we could do for the smaller clubs that throw registerd targets to help them. Here is what we have done.

Started the rebate program where 25% of the daily OSTA fee is refunded back to the club.

Provide a $100.00 shamrock trophy package to all clubs that request them as part of their OSTA membership.

Started the champion of champions program that provides high end shamrock bags to our qualified winners at the Ohio State shoot. We have seen attendance increases of up to 100% at clubs who use this program.

Started the club team challenge where the winning team at the Ohio State shoot will get $ 200.00 per shooter and the sponsoring club will receive $ 500.00.

For all clubs we are now doing radio advertising where each club can have their shoot information announced in order to increase attendance and participation.

So there you have it a history of the relocatio,service fees. I would appreciate input from the Ohio shooters as to whether or not the OSTA is on the right track.

BIGDON: I never gave it a thought, if a shooter arrives in a big Motor Home why not charge him or her more money.

Oh I bet when Mike Hampton hears this it will be next on his agenda.

I am not serious but Mike Hampton would do anything for money.

When you have a shooting facility with as many vendor buildings and vendors and trophy's eating places, re-loading supplies being offered at one facility,
and a new facility at that, great camping spaces w/shade, and shooting starting points on bank system w/cold water and shade, that is something that Sparta does not have yet.

A shooting complex close to the Interstate, Shopping and eating places such as Polaris for the women, and close to Motels and Hotels that only Sparta can dream of.

The Cardinal Center has a lot going for it. Why did the ATA double it's fees?

Talking about fees and target costs look at some of our local clubs and what they are charging, there are some at $30.00+fees and there are a lot at $20.00+
fees that are very good places to shoot at.

There are a lot of clubs throwing $3.00 to $4.00 practice targets in my area
and the Cardinal Center is one of them shooting on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

A small club In Sunbury has even more reasonable practice and sporting clays practice going for them, and there is always a crowd there when they shoot.

A round of 50 target sporting clays for non-members is $12.00 on Sundays.

There are clubs like Indiana Gun Club, Jaquas and Black Wing that offer guns and shooting supplies to offset costs, But Black Wing rips shooters off on their practices $9.00 is the highest in the state as far as I know.